Bengaluru: The intention was lofty. In an ambitious move to reduce damage to the environment, BBMP and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) came up with the concept of community Diwali celebrations. According to this concept, lighting and bursting of crackers were encouraged in specified places identified by the BBMP.
But the move flopped miserably, with both BBMP and the KSPCB unable to monitor the celebration of the festival or create enough awareness at the spots identified as permissible to light crackers.
While the response in core BBMP zones was very poor, it was slightly better in Dasarahalli, Yelahanka, Raja Rajeshwari Nagar and Bommanahalli zones.
N.S. Ramakanth, member of the Solid Waste Management Expert Committee of the BBMP, told Deccan Chronicle: “We came up with this idea of community Diwali, to reduce the damage to the environment. Moreover, dogs and birds get
terrified by the noise of crackers.”
“Many people even unknowingly step on crackers and get injured. We want the festival to be celebrated without causing any injury or damage to the environment,” he added.
Accepting that the plan was a marginal success, Ramakanth said, “This is the first year we tried the concept of community Diwali based on the pilot project we did last year at Yelahanka BBMP zone, where residents in the area were asked to burst crackers in a playground.”
While they managed to identify playgrounds and spots in Dasarahalli, Yelahanka, Bommanahalli and RR Nagar BBMP zones, nothing big happened in the core BBMP zones, he lamented and added, “We started off a little late this year, but next year, we will make it bigger with wider publicity.”
Joel Samuel, hon secretary of Benson Town Residents’ Welfare Association, said, “There was no information from the BBMP or the KSPCB on community Diwali. Before they come up with such plans, they need to create enough publicity in association with RWAs.”
